What to do if your vehicle is stolen

Nov 19, 2020

Person trying to break into a vehicle with a tool

Steps to follow when your car has been stolen

Many people have experienced the slight moment of panic when they leave an event or crowded store and aren’t able to immediately find their vehicle in the crowd. For many, the instant thought is that their vehicle has been stolen. While you’ll likely be able to locate your vehicle with a little bit of walking and repeatedly pressing the panic button on your key fob, there are some instances where you’ll be facing a stolen vehicle. After checking to see if your vehicle has simply been towed, you’ll need to follow these steps for trying to find your missing vehicle.

Alert the police

When you’ve determined that your vehicle has actually been stolen and isn’t just misplaced, call the police and file a report. Some vehicles have technology systems that help track them down, otherwise, you’ll have had to provide the police with your VIN, year, make, and model. From there, the police will begin investigating.

Call your insurance provider

If you have comprehensive insurance, your insurance provider should cover getting a new vehicle after they determine that it isn’t a fraudulent claim and your vehicle was truly stolen. Once their investigation is concluded, you’ll likely receive a payout for the actual cash value of your vehicle. While you’re waiting for a new vehicle or for your car to be found, some insurances will provide you with a rental so you don’t have to give up on all of your plans.

What to do if you don’t have comprehensive insurance?

While not knowing where your vehicle is can be terrifying, the majority of stolen vehicles are found and returned, which means that you won’t likely end up with a payout. To make sure that you’re prepared for the possibility of vehicle theft, check that your insurance will cover a stolen vehicle. If you don’t have comprehensive insurance and you need to get back on the road, stop by OkCarz to take a look at the inventory of used vehicles for sale to find a reasonably priced car, and learn more about your financing options.